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FOOTBALL: Sunshine Coast Fire coach Kevin A'Herne-Evans says spots will be up for grabs for some of the region's best local products when the side's pre-season training begins next month.

The club yesterday took a big leap in finalising preparations for the inaugural Australian Premier League season, offering contracts to players for its 10 junior sides.

The Fire has also confirmed coaches for nine of the junior teams and hopes to lock in the final position within the next week.

A'Herne-Evans admitted the 2013 squad would look significantly different to its 2012 grand final- winning side but was still confident of being competitive. As well as the departures of midfielder Tyson Holmes (South Melbourne FC) and striker Shaun Blackman (retired), the club will have to overhaul its foreign contingent.

Under APL rules, each team is only allowed three foreign players. The Fire's grand final squad featured six foreign players in Cyril and David Muta, Nicolas Bechar, Koriak Upaiga, Dakota Lucas and Steve Hindmarch.

A'Herne-Evans said David Muta was a certainty to take up one of the three spots. The club is assessing whether Bechar, whose visa runs out early next year, and Lucas, who is rehabilitating from a knee injury, will return. But A'Herne-Evans was reluctant to speculate on who will fill the final two positions.

The club is also in talks with a number of their former international players to return, including New Zealander Jason Hicks.

A'Herne-Evans said the restriction opened up opportunities for some of the McDonald's Premier League's best players to make the step up to state league football. He said he was keen to lure back former Fire players Ryan Delanhunty and Leon Dwyer, who this year plied their trade in the Sunshine Coast local competition.

"We're really excited about the response to the senior side. Tyson and Shaun won't be there but a majority have indicated they're all enthusiastic," he said.

"There will be a restriction on the number of foreigners, which gives all the more encouragement for the local guys who felt they weren't much of a chance this year, they can chase a spot down and I would encourage them to turn up at pre-season training and prove it and try to break into the first team."